Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that RICHARD YOUNGBLOOD, dob: 3/30/1971 of Galena, Missouri was sentenced on December 8th to the maximum sentence of seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr for the class D felony of Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident. Probation was denied. In connection with the charge, RICHARD YOUNGBLOOD was charged as a prior and persistent felony offender.

On August 8th, 2007, RICHARD YOUNGBLOOD passed an individual riding on a motorcycle in a no passing zone on US 160 west of MO 248. During passing he hit his brakes and the motorcycle rider collided with the back of RICHARD YOUNGBLOOD’s truck. RICHARD YOUNGBLOOD fled from the scene of the accident and did not make any attempts to contact law enforcement or the injured motorcycle driver.

The class D felony of leaving the scene of a motor vehcile accident has a range of punishment of one (1) day to one (1) year in the County Jail, one (1) year to four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed 5,000. As a prior and persistent felony offender, RICHARD YOUNGBLOOD faced up to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections which is the maximum punishment for a class C felony.